top 3 things i miss the most about stock

[Jack McCarthy]

1. used to be you could build a car and be competitive because of hard work and ingenuity > now it is just about how much you are willing to spend

2. used to be the teardown barn was where we found out who was legal and who was a cheater > now it is where we find out what you can get away with and what rules will be realxed next year

3. (and the most missed) used to be we all pretty much respected each other, and enjoyed the competiton > now we fight, argue, accuse each other at every opportunity

i know im old, but it is a shame that i can hardly even recognize the class i have raced for over 35 years.

jack mccarthy

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Jack McCarthy

1. used to be you could build a car and be competitive because of hard work and ingenuity > now it is just about how much you are willing to spend

2. used to be the teardown barn was where we found out who was legal and who was a cheater > now it is where we find out what you can get away with and what rules will be realxed next year

3. (and the most missed) used to be we all pretty much respected each other, and enjoyed the competiton > now we fight, argue, accuse each other at every opportunity

i know im old, but it is a shame that i can hardly even recognize the class i have raced for over 35 years.

jack mccarthy

True.....so sad but very true !

[Charley Downing]

1. So you are saying anyone who builds a new car lacks hard work and ingenuity. Jack you and me both know that is a load of crap. You know you will not find any racers that work harder than Even smith, Ken Miele, Irvin Johns, Chris Holbrook and Myself. Or are these people slackers. And just so you know A-F Stock & Superstock have always been who has the most money.

2. Tear Downs you are correct 100%

3. People still respect each other. We all just have different options about stock and Superstock and where it is going. Greg Hill and Myself may differ when it comes to the new cars. But I still respect him as a racer and a friend.

[Billy Nees]

I'm with Jack, sorry Charliebob, you didn't convince me otherwise.

[Charley Downing]

It's ok you guys are old school, and that's fine with me.

[Dgal]

Originally Posted by Charley Downing

It's ok you guys are old school, and that's fine with me.

I am a new guy into the sport (my 2nd year) and I am with Jack, also.

Don

[Ken Miele]

Charley,

I could not agree with you more. How many people that raced in 1969 could afford a ZL1 Camaro or Corvette. Racing has always involved money when it comes to the upper classes.

I can build a competitive 1988 Mustang 5.0 for less the $15,000, according to 1969 dollars that would cost you $2500. I think some people miss the fact that there are allot more people today that have the money to spend then they did in the 60's. Spending money is relative, Its just more are doing it today.

Tear down is the result of not enough personnel. They don't or do not want to hire the man power. I do not blame the racer for pushing the rules as far as he can go. That is true in any form of racing.

Respect, I have respect for anybody that spends the time and money on this sport, and in most cases will never see a return.

I am between the old school and the new school, but I would much rather race in the new school. Racing old technology, is just that, old. Could any of you old timers imagine racing a 40 year old car in 1969, a four cylinder flathead in a model A. The sport in moving on whether we like it or not.

[Charley Downing]

Dgal what kind of car are you racing?

[Wade Mahaffey]

I have nothing but respect for all of you folks, for you continue to do this stuff. But when it comes to old school vs. new school, it seems to me that the cost is taking it's toll. Also I look for new blood in the sport as a guage to it's future. I wonder how many would be there if not for daddy, uncle, brother etc. that lead/provided the way. How much new blood is actually comming in. I am working hard to get there, but don't have any of the previous mentioned resources to help. I did'nt even have anyone in the neighborhood to look up to as a kid. It's tough working hard on your car, but even tougher when nobody showed you what to do! I will be old school, and then some....but I will be proud because I did it all by myself. Just like you guys did back in the day. I feel that the cost and up hill battle against well funded "teams"/"new school" is making it easier for many racers to talk themselves out of going. That's why I see so much parking lot there at Charlotte in Tom's photos. Hope to add one new name in 2011, and look foward to sittin beside ya somewhere down the road !

Wade Mahaffey

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

How many people that raced in 1969 could afford a ZL1 Camaro or Corvette. Racing has always involved money when it comes to the upper classes.

It's common sense that faster/higher classed cars cost more money to build and science out. That's not the question. There's certainly a limited number of people that can afford to run the big-buck cars. That's not what the "class warfare" (pun intended) we're seeing today is all about. It's not whether or not the masses could afford a ZL1 Corvette, it's about "Did the ZL1 Corvette start out in H/SA?"